Game of Thrones,
Season 7, episode 2: Stormborn
4/5
Dear D.B Weiss and David Benioff,
This is a love letter to Game of Thrones, to you, and to George R. R. Martin. Make no mistake, the second episode of the seventh season, Stormborn, is not quite the astounding penultimate episode like Hardhome, or Battle of the Bastards. Nor was it quite the mid-season cracker like The Door.
But Stormborn is a thrill-a-minute, heart-racing ride that makes you want to jump out of your seat, squeal, scream and hold your head in horror. There’s absolute gross violence, there’s the measured nudity, and there’s a shock at every turn. In short, this episode encapsulates everything that Game of Thrones has ever stood for. And for that, thank you.
The beauty of Stormborn lies in the simplicity of the idea that the story must hurtle towards the conclusion, but not quite hastily. Marriages of convenience, even if they tear apart existing allegiances, will be the death of the seven kingdoms. This in spite of far bigger dangers looming over them. But you already know that.
It’s the little things that matter, though. So let me first appreciate the beautiful way in which Jon Snow has been crafted. The man who knew nothing is now the man who knows everything. Unsure of himself and his decisions, with one single goal in mind, Jon’s inching towards saving the North.
One can’t decide if new super-villain Euron Greyjoy is the highlight of this episode or Olenna Tyrell’s world-worn feminism. And the best part about this episode is that one has not two, but so many high points to choose from. From Arya’s dilemmas, to Missandei and Greyworm’s, Daenerys’ growing impatience to Tyrion’s sharp sense of focus and getting his job done for Dany, your episode hits a series of strong notes. Never a dull moment.
Except maybe Samwell’s storyline, but we can forgive that for the greater good. Now that the Tarly boy has met Jorah Mormont, we can only hope it gets better from here.
But that’s a digression. You’ve brought some of the greyest characters to life on the screen. And it’s there with the delicately choreographed combat sequences and Ramin Djawadi’s pulsating music that you, as a viewer, realise whose side you’re really on. What grey character of which house, the pretenders or true claimants to the smaller thrones and the big ones you really root for.
That’s the magic of the show we’ve all come to love and binge on. And we’d just like to welcome you back.
Game of Thrones Season 7 airs in India on Star World and Star World HD at 11 pm every Tuesday.
